Crab's Claw, Lenny's, Ben Franklin reopen

Feb. 8, 2013

Anthony Festa is shown in the rebuilt kitchen Thursday at The Sand Dollar in Lavalette that is now reopened after rebuilding in the wake of Superstorm Sandy. LAVALETTE, NJ 2/7/13 SANDDOLLAR0207C ASBURY PARK PRESS PHOTO BY THOMAS P. COSTELLO

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The Lavallette Business Association is reaching out to business owners in the borough who need help rebuilding since superstorm Sandy. LBA President Mark Speaker encouraged those businesses to contact the association by visiting lavallettebusiness.com.

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LAVALLETTE — Some borough business owners say they are over the shock of superstorm Sandy’s devastation and back in operation.

In recent weeks, fixtures such as the Ben Franklin store, Lenny’s Pizzeria and the Crab’s Claw Inn have reopened after extensive restoration.

“We’re coming back. Things have changed, but it is coming along,” said Jason Boekholt, manager of Ben Franklin.

“It was hard to start over from scratch. We lost a lot, but we’re back and we’re ready to begin again,” said Anthony Festa, manager of the Sand Dollar restaurant, which reopened Wednesday.

During Sandy, 1,500 homes – about half the borough – sustained substantial flood damage. About 25 homes sustained catastrophic damage and were in danger of collapse. But residents were allowed to move back in December.

Mark Speaker, president of the Lavallette Business Association, said: “We’re getting back to normal, but it is a process. We have our good days and our bad days.”

Speaker said the borough has about 2,900 taxable properties and 100 businesses. Watch the video above to see business owners talk about rebuilding after Sandy. Using our mobile app? Watch the video here.

“We have around 24 to 26 businesses operating, which is about 1/3of what we have. We are gaining one or two that are reopening each week,’’ he said.

“Lavallette is unique in that we have our own infrastructure, and that helped the process. We are rebuilding the boardwalk and, despite everything, I think we’ll have a good summer season this year.”

Festa’s parents, Maria and Tony Festa, are the original owners of the Sand Dollar restaurant, which operated in Ortley Beach for about 30 years before moving in 2010 to Lavallette.

The Festas had to rebuild the entire front of the restaurant and rip out the kitchen, replacing the stove and dishwasher. All the refrigeration needed new compressors. And a lot of food perished.

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“We want people to understand that businesses here in Lavallette and in other areas of the barrier island are open,’’ Maria Festa said.

Ben Franklin owner James Boekholt, who is also a former borough mayor, said his store, which opened in 1948, experienced a similar situation.

“We had to close after the storm and were unable to open until just before Christmas. There was two feet of water in the store and about a quarter-inch of brown gook. Even today, we are still cleaning up,’’ he said.

As businesses reopen, reaction from residents has been positive.

“The response we got from our customers Friday when we reopened was remarkable,’’ said Louise Hammer, co-owner of the Crab’s Claw Inn. “We had to streamline the menu, taking away a lot of items we would normally have carried.’’

On Thursday morning, Ronnie Molitoriss had breakfast at the Sand Dollar.

“I’ve been coming here three times a day since they reopened and I came here all the time before Sandy. I’m glad they are back,’’ said Molitoriss, who works at the Starlight Motel in Ortley Beach, which plans to to open within the next two months.